Paul seiler



(No Model.)

P. SEILE-R.

AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPH SIGNAL BOX.

No. 269,124. Patented'Dec. 12, 1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PA UL semen, OF SAN nanncrsoo, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF r TOANDRES Nunez, on SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC TELEGRAPH SIGNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No: 269,124, dated December12, 1882.

Application filed August 18,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL SEILER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the cityand county of San Francisco, inthe State of California, have made and invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Telegraphic Signal-Boxes; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the signal setting andtransmitting mechanism of telegraphic signal-boxes.

It consists in the construction and combina-.

I5 tions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The following description fully explains the nature of my saidimprovement and the manher in which I construct, apply, and use thesame. I 2o In the drawings herein referred to by figures and letters,Figure 1 is a perspective view of a signalbox constructed in accordancewith my'invention, the front of the case having the usual dial,and theindex or pointer being removed from the signal-wheel hub to expose theparts. Fig. 2 is a detail View of the multiple-signal wheel that isfixed to and moved by the index on theoutside of the box. It also showsthe fixed bridge-piece that contains the signal number of the box. Fig.3 is a side view of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of theswinging arm and its contact-point, also of the automatic circuit-closerthat permits passage of the current through the swinging arm in one 3 5direction of its movement and short-circuits the arm in the other.direction.

The setting and transmitting mechanism consists of a signal-wheel, A,mounted loosely up- I on a stud, b, that projects from the back plate,X, of the box, and a pivoted vibrating or swinging arm, B, fixed on ashaft, 0, and connected with a clock-work mechanism, D, of suchcharacter that when thearm is turned upward, or in what I shall term itsforward direction, 5' the shaft 0 is caused to wind up a coil-spring, d,and when released the shaft 0 is rotated in the opposite direction, andthe arm Bis brought back by the reaction of the spring and at therequired rate of movement by the retarding action of the clockwork. Thismanner of workso ing the arm 0 is not new, as the same device is appliedto the index or pointer in boxes of other construction where a wheelcarrying signal characters in its rim is caused to turn by such springdevice backward and in contact 5 with a spring-point.

In myimproved construction the signal-plate is independent of thetransmitting mechanism, and is free to be turned in either direction andto remain set, if required, at any particular signal as long'as desired.

The plate A has on one side a hub, from which radiate a number of ledgesor tracks that stand out from the face of the plate to form narrowjraised surfaces at a, &c. The

ledges extend from the centeroutward to the circumference, and whileplaced in radial lines they are also arranged on curves that are part ofa circle of a diameter equal to the length of the arm- B from the axis 0to its contact-point b. Each one of these ledges has a number of teethand notches or elevations and depressions, the arrangement and relationof which determine the character of the signal on each one, and as manyledges can be arranged on a plate as may be desired, as they can beplaced in very close order without interfering with the properproduction of signals. This construction givesa signal-plate capable ofcontaining a great number of signals. 8o Concentric with the axis 0 ofthe arm B and in proper relation to the wheel A, as shown, I place afixed track or bridge-piece, E, over which the point of the arm B iscarried on both its upward and its return or downward, 8

movement. This bridge-piece is fixed to the base X of the box, and isformed on a curve having its center at the center of rotation of the arm0. Any one of the radial ledges a when brought intoline with this bridgethere- ,fore forms a continuation of it, because they are all struckwith a radius equal to that of the curved bridge, and the axis of theplate A is located on the curve having this point 0 for its center.

One of the binding-posts, M, is in electric contact with the back plate,X, so that the bridge E is in connection with the line y; but

the frameD of the shaftG and clock-work D d are insulated from the box,so that the other line, 2, being attached to the plate D, the current istaken through the arm B. This wire 2 leads from the binding-post M tothe spools P, and thence down to the plate D, the circult being thusthrough the magnet and plate to the arm, and thence to the bridge E. The

normal condition of the current is a closed one, as when the arm B isnot in operation it rests upon the part. 6 of the bridge E.

To prevent contactdurin g the upward movement of the arm when it isbeing broughtinto position to be acted on by the signal-ledge a on theplate A, the arm B is taken out of the circuit by the short-circuitdevice, shown in Figs. 4. and 5 of the drawings. This consists of thefixed contact-point q, projecting upward from the binding-post M, and asimilar point or finger, s, carried on the shaft 0. Move ment of thefinger with the shaft as the crank is turned is effected by friction,for which purpose a split concave washer, A, placed on the shaft 0. isheld against the hub or center '8, from which the finger projects. Inthe position of the arm B when not in action the two points q s are outof contact, and the two are placed in such relation to each other thatas the arm E is turned upward the finger sis moved away from the fixedstop it, and is pressed against the point g. This contact is maintainedas long asthe upward movement continues; but as soon as the crank isreleased the spring reacts, and the arm is moved back over the ledge a,separatingthe points q s and breaking the short circuit. The arm B isthen in the circuit again, and its backward movement over the ledge aand the bridge E then gives the signal, first from the wheel A and thenfrom the bridge E.

It will be evident that the circuit through the wheel A, arm B, bridgeE, and the magnet can be taken in several ways. In that given in Fig. 1the circuit is in either direction through the wire y, thebase X, thebridge E, arm B, to the plate D of the clock-work mechanism; thence bythe wire 2 to the magnet; thence by wire 2? out to the line 2. The point(1 is in electric connection with the base X of the box, by which theshort circuit is made to cut out the arm B when the two points q s arebrought together by the upward movement of the arm.

The simplicity of this short-circuit device will be apparent. The mannerof moving and holding the point 8 by friction accommodates thedifference in movement required by the arm B, and no spring or auxiliarymechanism is necessary to operate the point 8.

In connection with this transmitting mechanism, I provide areturn-signal device operated directly from the armature of the magnet.This consists simply of an armature, T, hinged to the base of the boxbetween brackets m m in position to stand away from the poles of themagnets, and to take this position when released from the magnets. Thiscan be effected either by the gravity of the armature itself or by theadditional assistance of a light spring, I. To its lower end a striker,U, is fixed in such position that as the armature is drawn to the magnetthe head of the striker is brought with force against a gong, V, and asignal is produced. At such time, also, a short circuit is made tocutout the magnet and restore the armature to its first position. Thisshort circuit consists of the wire w, leading from the wire 2 to onecontact-point, w, and a spring, to, carried by the end of the armatureT, forming another contact-point. Thus when a return-current is sentback from the receivingstation to the box, the magnet attracts thearmature T and a signal is given, while the armature is instantly thrownback by the action of the short circuit to we These several improvementsreduce the expense of manufacture of such boxes, while at the same timethey add to the simplicity and effectiveness of their operation. Themultiplesignal plate is left at any particular signal as long asdesired, which is an advantage. The

arrangement of the fixed signal-bridge and the' mode of operating thetransmitting-arm are also an improvement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telegraphic signal-box, the signal plate or wheel A,having theradial ledges a a, mounted and capable of rotation upon an axis, a meansfor rotating the said wheel from the outside of its inclosin g box, andthe swinging arm B, moving from a center, 0, a means for rotating thesaid arm, and a short circuit to cut out the said arm from the circuitin one direction of its movement over the signalledges a, and to restoreit at the reverse movement, all combined to operate as set forth.

2. The multiple-signal wheel A, having the radial ledges a a, which areset on curves of equal radii to spring uniformly from' the center tocircumference of the wheel to come in line with a fixed bridge on thesame curve, in combination with said bridge, all constructed and appliedto operate substantially as described and shown.

3. In an automatic signal-box,thecombination together of themultiple-signal wheel A, the fixed bridge E, the arm B, carrying thecontact-point and operated by the shaft 0, the crank and clock-workmechanism, and the short-circuit points q s, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic alarm-box, the combination, with the swinging arm B,having movements as described, of the curved bridge E, carrying a fixedsignal, and arranged relatively to the center of motion of the arm B,substantially as described.

5. The combination together upon a supporting-base, X, of the automatictransmitting and return signal mechanism, consistingof themultiple-signal wheel A, having radial tracks or ledgesa a, and thestationary bridge E, placed relatively thereto, as described, theswinging transmitting-arm B, and its operating mechanism 0 D d d,insulated from the Witnesses: base, the short-circuit points q s,theelectro- EDWARD E. OSBORN, magnet P,piv0fed armatureT,and striker,and D. SELLEGK.

the short circuit w w W, all as described, to 10 operate together, asset forth. i

Witness my hand and seal.

PAUL SEILER. p s4

